Nanatasis – Opéra en trois légendes

Young audience, 6 years +

Co-presented with Groupe Le Vivier

PREMIERE

Created by Abenaki storyteller and librettist Nicole O’Bomsawin and composer Alejandra Odgers, Nanatasis takes us on a journey through three traditional Abenaki legends, thanks to the wise tales of Grand-Mère Marmotte and the exciting adventures of Kl8sk8mba, a boy who has become a man and a hero. These legends tell the story of the creation of the world, starting with the first sound of a rattle, a giant and terrifying moz that Kl8sk8ba shrinks to its present-day size, and of an endless winter that finally yields to spring. In this work commissioned by Musique 3 Femmes, produced in collaboration wit Sixtrum, and directed by Métis director and set designer Troy Hourie, eleven musicians and four puppeteers whisk you away to a magical, colourful world.

[. . .] sung by bass William Kraushaar, magnificent and perfectly cast, with his deep, rich timbre and irresistible roundness [. . .] Alejandra Odgers’ music is tonal, melodic and accessible. [. . .] The orchestration is sparing (a flute and percussion), but colourful. It’s easy to imagine Nanatasis going on tour and appealing to a very wide audience.

– Frédéric Cardin, PAN M360

Language: French, with a few words in Abenaki

Running time: 55 minutes

Techniques: Opera, orchestra, storytelling, puppets

The show will be followed by a talkback with the artists.

Video

Photos

Photos: Kevin Calixte

Company

Musique 3 Femmes (M3F) is a Montréal-based contemporary opera company founded in 2018 and dedicated to creating innovative operas commissioned from female and non-binary composers and librettists. M3F is actively engaged in redefining the boundaries of opera by exploring diverse narratives and incorporating marginalized perspectives. The company has presented its work in Canada, New York, and Germany, in collaboration with prestigious institutions such as FIFA, Opéra de Montréal and Opera America. The Nanatasis puppet opera project marks the company’s first journey into Indigenous storytelling, merging tradition and innovation on stage.

Credits

Composer: Alejandra Odgers
Librettist: Nicole O’Bomsawin
Stage direction and set design: Troy Hourie
Puppeteers: Karine St-Arnaud, Lysanne O’Bomsawin, Andrew Gaboury
Technical director: Guillaume Barrette
Puppet consultants: Jesse Wabegijig, Teatro e Marionetas de Mandrágora, Portugal
Movement specialist: Andrew Gaboury
Workshop video designer: Ben Rosenberg
Video design: potatoCakes_digital (Emily Soussana and Andrew Scriver)
Conductor: Christopher Gaudreault
Soprano: Odéi Bilodeau
Mezzo-sopranos: Élise Boucher-De Gonzague, Kristin Hoff
Tenor: Mishael Eusebio
Bass: William Kraushaar
Flutes: Josée Poirier
Percussions: Sixtrum – Joâo Catalâo, Fabrice Marandola, Philip Hornsey, Kristie Ibrahim
Production manager: Kristin Hoff
Lighting: Mathieu Marcil
Surtitles and assistant to the stage director: Nicole Ross
Cultural guidance: Sylvain Rivard

Musique 3 Femmes gratefully acknowledges the generous sharing of knowledge and experience by the Indigenous people who brought this creation to life: Nicole O’Bomsawin, Élise Boucher-DeGonzague, Troy Hourie, Jesse Wabegijig, and Lysanne O’Bomsawin.

Special thanks also to Sylvain Rivard for sharing his vast expertise and love of Abenaki culture.

The creation of Nanatasis was made possible thanks to the support of Mécénat Musica Prix 3 Femmes, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, the Conseil des arts de Montréal, the Azrieli Foundation, the Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble, Groupe Le Vivier, Casteliers, Salle Bourgie, CIRMMT, Opera McGill, and the Université de Montréal.

Musique 3 Femmes also wishes to thank Troy Hourie and the University of Guelph for contributing to the opera’s visual design by offering a theatre course in experiential learning.

The show is sold out? Try your luck at the door! Arrive early. If reserved tickets become available at the last minute, we’ll be happy to put them back for sale.

As a courtesy to the artists and other spectators, latecomers will not be permitted to enter. There are no intermissions.